GRAND FORKS (AP) - The chief sponsor of a statewide smoking ban says his goal is to "remove the threat of second-hand smoke from all public places."

Bars currently are exempt from the ban. State Sen. Ralph Kilzer, R-Bismarck, said he will propose tougher restrictions when the Legislature meets next year.

Minnesota health groups have said they plan to propose a smoking ban in that state's Legislature as well.

"They even talked about passing it in the first week," Kilzer said about the Minnesota Legislature. "If that would happen (early in the session), I would think that would remove some of the opposition to the North Dakota bill."

That opposition could come from people worried about giving North Dakotans a reason to cross into Minnesota to smoke, he said.

A Minnesota ban including all state restaurants and bars "probably would level out the playing field a little more than it is now" with North Dakota, said Carry Kaltenberg, a coordinator for the Grand Forks Public Health Department's tobacco prevention program.

She also coordinates the Grand Forks Tobacco Free Coalition.

The executive director of the North Dakota Hospitality Association said bar owners likely would fight legislation to ban smoking in their businesses, even if they already ban smoking.

"The association feels that it's a rights issue," said Nicki Weissman. "It's business owners who should make that decision. "

Rep. Dwight Wrangham, R-Bismarck, the executive director of The Coin and Tavern Association, a group representing owners of bars and coin-operated machines, said the local tavern is like a "blue-collar workers' country club, where they gather and - like it or not - they smoke."